- Address: Náměstí Míru 1219/2, 120 00 Praha 2-Vinohrady, Czech Republic
- Denomination: Catholicism
- Condition: active
The Church of St. Ludmila (Kostel svaté Ludmily) is located in the central part of Prague in the Peace Square. It belongs to the Roman Catholic Church and is a majestic structure, erected in the style of early Northern Germanic Gothic.
What is the famous church?
The Church of St. Ludmila was laid in 1888, consecrated in 5 years. They built a church on the project of Josef Motzkert. The most famous artists, sculptors and architects of the Czech Republic , who lived at that time, took part in the construction and arrangement of the church.
The church impresses parishioners and tourists with its grandeur and decoration. It still works. Religious rites are often held here, and worship services are performed almost every day. At this time in the church plays organ, consisting of 3000 pipes.
To whom is the temple dedicated?
Its name was the Church of St. Ludmila in Prague in honor of the first Christian woman in the state, who was canonized in the 12th century. She lived in the IX century, led the country together with her son Vratislav and died martyr for her religious beliefs. She was strangled by a veil during a prayer, so she is depicted in a white kerchief on the icons.
In the memory of the citizens, Saint Lyudmila remained a wise ruler, who lived according to the canons of the church, cared for the destitute and sick people. Today she is the patroness of the Czech Republic, intercessor of grandmothers, mothers, teachers and educators.
The facade of the church
The Church of St. Ludmila is a brick three-nave basilica, to which two identical tower-bell towers adjoin each side. In height, they reach 60 m, and their sharp spiers are crowned. The church seems to rush to the sky. This idea is emphasized also by pointed arms, arches stretched to the top.
The facade of the building is decorated with multicolored stained-glass windows and carved details, emphasizing the religious and cult themes of the architectural construction. The main entrance to the church of St. Ludmila is crowned with massive doors that are decorated with a strict ornament. A high staircase leads to them.
Above the portal there is a large window made in the form of a rose. Timpan is decorated with a relief image of Jesus Christ, blessing Saints Wenceslas and Ludmila. Its author is the famous sculptor Josef Myslbek. On the fronts and lateral aisles there are figures of the Great Martyrs who patronized the Czech Republic at various times.
Interior of the church
The interior of the church of St. Ludmila is decorated in a light and solemn style. Above the design worked such famous masters as:
- Antonin Procházka is a sculptor;
- František Ženishek and Josef Čapek - painters;
- Antonin Turek is an artist.
On the ceiling arches, floral patterns were painted, and the snow-white columns were decorated with ethnic and geometric patterns and crosses. The walls are ornamented with lancet semi-arches and bright frescoes. They used gold, orange and blue tones.
The main altar of the church is decorated with precious stones and has a height of 16 m. It houses the crucifix and sculpture of St. Ludmila. Here is a fresco, which depicts scenes from the life of the martyr.
Visitors and side altars created by the project of Stepan Zaleshak deserves attention. On the left is a statue of the Virgin Mary with a baby in her arms, 6 patrons of the Czech Republic are bending over her. In the right part of the church you can see the double sculpture of Saint Methodius and Cyril.
How to get there?
The church of St. Ludmila is in the Vinohrady district. You can get there by bus number 135 or by tram numbers 51, 22, 16, 13, 10 and 4. The stop is called Náměstí Míru, and the journey takes up to 10 minutes.